Unfortunately, as a country we are faced with a healthcare crisis that is impacting the quality of cancer care available to patients.

According to the American Cancer Society, 4,000 Americans are diagnosed with cancer every day. Physicians in private offices and community hospitals treat 84 percent of these patients.

More cuts in Medicare, which covers approximately 45 percent of Americans with cancer, will force community oncologists to further subsidize the cost of cancer care. This cost is ultimately passed on to patients, many of whom forgo treatment or portions of their treatment due to their inability to pay.

My colleagues and I were recently in Washington asking representatives to avoid making cuts that would be devastating to patients and their providers. Yes, our country’s healthcare system needs to be fixed. But it needs to be a strategic evolution that reduces costs in ways that won’t cripple important segments of patient care.

I urge our patients, friends, family and neighbors to become educated on healthcare reform issues and ask Congress and our President to take a careful look at the changes they make to our healthcare system. We don’t just need reform. We need smart reform.

Almost every one of us is or will be touched by cancer in some way. Cancer patients are our family, our friends, our co-workers and ourselves. This is an issue that impacts all of us so we must be actively engaged in the conversation.

Daniel Potokar was a rising star on the legendary Ohio State University football team when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in late 2007.

Even after many grueling months of treatment, which included surgery and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, Dan’s battle with cancer was not yet won. In the spring of 2008, the cancer had viciously returned to the then 20-year-old’s brain.

Dan was referred to The Zangmeister Center where Dr. Tarek Chidiac put the former OSU receiver on an aggressive full-brain radiation treatment and performed Stereotactic Radiosurgery, a procedure similar to laser surgery, which eventually destroyed the remaining cancerous tumors.

“I always felt very comfortable at The Zangmesister Center,” Dan shares. “Every morning I was greeted with smiles from everyone from the receptionist to my doctor. I also had the two most amazing nurses who took great care of me.”

Dan now spends his time getting back to the things he loves most in life: his fiancée, Stephanie, his two canine companions, Maggie and Lucy, hitting the gym and serving as an assistant coach to the OSU Buckeyes.

“My cancer stole a year of my life, but reinforced my belief in staying positive,” he says. “Always believing that even the worst situations will get better helps me through my everyday life.”

In February 2009, an MRI revealed that all five tumors in Dan’s brain had disappeared. On October 1, 2009, he was officially in remission.

“I have always looked at things two ways—you can get down and be depressed or you can put a smile on your face and remedy the situation.”

Dan’s still smiling.

A passionate schoolteacher for many years, Barbara Beckwith found a new passion through her experience with cancer: advocating for research and for other cancer patients.

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, Barbara underwent surgery, radiation and chemotherapy simultaneously. Cancer-free, she continued teaching school until 1999 when she decided to retire. “I retired at that time because I wanted to retire on my own terms, never because of my health,” she says.

Not one to slow down, Barbara began part-time work for Columbus Community Clinical Oncology Program and became involved in other organizations that advocate clear and concise patient information, research and cancer-related legislation. Barbara is an Independent Consultant for the Diversity Enhancement Program at the Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center

In 2006, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer, which she faced head on. This diagnosis made her even more determined to continue with her work. “I have a wonderful son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and I want to know that research is occurring so that my family doesn’t ever have to go through the same thing as I have,” she says.

Today she is on the National Cancer Institute’s Subcommittee A, which evaluates cancer centers applications. She also worked with the Ohio Partners for Cancer Control to write the cancer plan for the state and a resource guide for patients in Ohio.

Barbara travels frequently to conferences such as ASCO, AACR, NBCC, SABC and LIVESTRONG for training and meeting with other advocates. She accompanies newly diagnosed patients to doctors’ appointments and serves as their advocate and “second ears.”

Having been through cancer twice and with her experience in many cancer-related organizations, Barbara knows and believes that The Zangmeister Center is “one of the best.”

“Everyone at The Zangmeister Center is tuned in to how patients should be treated,” she says. “They listen and treat everyone with respect. The level of expertise and quality of care is simply outstanding. I’ve been blessed with good doctors who really take the time to answer my questions and respect my opinion.”

Although she works hard, Barbara does take time for herself. “I make time for me every day. You have to de-stress. You also have to do things to make you laugh. It’s good for the soul.”

We also offer Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), where we are able to treat some types of tumors with much fewer treatments. Utilizing advanced imaging techniques (4DCT) we are able to see how a tumor moves while the patient is breathing. Respiratory gating then allows us to deliver radiation to our patients only when tumor motion is minimal, greatly reducing risk of side effects to healthy tissue.

The Zangmeister Center also utilizes advanced technology (IGRT and IMRT) to ensure that we are targeting the tumor with precision during every treatment. Our team of radiation oncology physicians, physicists, dosimetrists, therapists and nurses work closely with patients, family members and their referring physicians to provide patient-focused care in a facility designed for easy access and comfort.

More than half of all people diagnosed with cancer receive chemotherapy, treatments that use drugs to kill affected cells. For millions of people who have conditions that respond well to chemotherapy, this approach helps them to enjoy full, productive lives. Many side effects once associated with chemotherapy are now easily prevented or controlled, allowing many people to work, travel and participate in normal activities while receiving treatment.

Our infusion area features 90 comfortable infusion chairs situated in a naturally lit, open space. To pass the time, the center offers a variety of pleasant distractions – including Wi-Fi, reading materials and plenty of windows – all contributing to the warm, caring environment.

Our business hours are 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM. If you have an emergency after regular business hours, on weekends or on holidays, you may contact our answering service at (614) 383-6000. The answering service will immediately contact the physician on call.

• Bring a family member or a friend.
• Know the names, address and phone numbers of the other physicians who care for you.
• Know your current medications including the dose, times you take them, why you are taking them and dates when you started taking them.
• Know your allergies.
• Know dates of recent surgeries, tests, hospitalizations and blood transfusions.
• If you have questions please write them down so that you don’t forget to ask.

What You Should Know About Your Chemotherapy Treatment

We want you to feel relaxed and comfortable when you receive treatment. The following items are provided for your use, but feel free to bring in something of your own to read, eat or drink.

• Wi-Fi Access
• Books/Magazines
• Blankets/Pillows
• Juices/Coffee/Tea
• Cookies/Crackers/Chips
• Hard Candies

During the initial visit and your one-on-one session with one of our patient care coordinators, we highly encourage you to bring a family member or friend.

However, during chemotherapy treatment, we do ask that your friends and family wait in one of our comfortable waiting areas. This ensures your confidentiality and those of the patients around you.

If You Have a Question
When you call our nurse line (614) 383-6000, ext. 6086 with a question or concern during regular office hours, you will be asked to leave a message detailing your need. We review these messages consistently throughout the day and nurses will relay your message to your physician and call back with the information you requested as soon as possible. Urgent concerns will be addressed immediately and others will be addressed by the end of the business day.

Dropping by the office may be an inconvenience for you, because your doctor may not be available. Please call us first even when you are just stopping by to pick up a prescription, so that we can serve you more efficiently. If you need to see your doctor, we are happy to schedule an appointment for you.

We offer a daily symptom management clinic where nurse practitioners are available to assist you. Please call ahead at 614-383-6000, ext. 6086 so we know to expect you.